Is Being a Plumber a Good Career? Here's the Honest Truth

Let's start with what everyone wants to know. The national median salary for plumbers is $59,300/yr ($28.50/hr). That's the midpoint -- half earn more, half earn less.

Entry-level plumbers start around $40,300/yr. Once you've got a few years under your belt and a journeyman credential, you're looking at $74,100/yr or higher. The top 10% of earners pull in $91,900/yr.

Union plumbers do better -- averaging $35/hr compared to $27.50/hr for non-union workers. When you factor in benefits worth around $17,800/yr, the total compensation gap widens even further.

And don't forget overtime. In the trades, OT is common, especially during busy seasons. Time-and-a-half at journeyman rates adds up fast.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6.0% growth in plumber jobs over the next decade. There are currently about 500,200 plumber positions nationwide.

But the real story isn't just growth -- it's replacement. A huge chunk of the existing workforce is aging out and retiring. The trades have been under-promoted for decades, which means fewer people entering the field than leaving it. That's bad for the industry but great for anyone starting out now. Employers are competing for qualified workers, which means better pay, better benefits, and more leverage for you.

And this kind of work isn't going anywhere. You can't outsource a broken pipe or a wiring job to another country, and robots aren't climbing into crawl spaces yet.

Plumbing is one of the more physically demanding trades. You'll dig trenches, carry heavy pipe, and spend a lot of time on your knees or crouching in tight spaces. Some jobs involve working in less-than-pleasant conditions -- sewer lines don't exactly smell like roses. But the physical work keeps you in shape, and the variety keeps things from getting boring.

Let's be real: this work takes a toll on your body over time. Talk to anyone who's been in the trades for 20+ years and they'll tell you about their knees, their back, or their shoulders. Take care of yourself -- stretch, lift properly, wear your PPE, and take breaks when you need them. The money is good, but it's not worth destroying your body.

Time: 4-5 years for a full apprenticeship, or 6-24 months for trade school plus field experience.

Cost: $0 for union apprenticeships, or $5,000-$15,000 for trade school programs.

Compare that to a four-year degree that costs $40,000-$100,000+ and doesn't guarantee a job. Apprentices start earning from day one and graduate with real skills, real experience, and zero student debt. That's a hard deal to beat.

Your day starts early, usually around 6-7 AM. On new construction, you'll be running drain, waste, and vent lines, installing water supply piping, and setting fixtures. Service plumbers handle repairs and emergencies -- stopped-up drains, leaking pipes, water heater replacements. Every day is different, especially in service work. You might handle 3-5 service calls in a day or spend the whole week on one big rough-in.

One thing most tradespeople love about the work: no two days are exactly the same. You're solving problems, working with your hands, and seeing tangible results. At the end of the day, you can point to something and say "I built that" or "I fixed that." There's a real satisfaction in that.

The plumber career ladder has more rungs than most people realize. Here's the typical progression:

1. 1Apprentice (4-5 years) -- learning the trade under supervision
2. 2Journeyman Plumber -- licensed to work independently
3. 3Master Plumber -- can design systems, pull permits, and supervise
4. 4Plumbing Contractor -- run your own business
5. 5Plumbing Inspector -- work for the municipality reviewing installations

The path from apprentice to business owner is well-trodden in the trades. Starting your own plumber business requires way less capital than most other businesses, and the demand for quality work is always there.